Air-inspirator.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

J. HE'IML-IGH.

AIR- INSPIEATOR.

Lr1 LIOATIOR FILED Drama. 1904.

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I paratively little heat.

JOHN HEIMLIGH, OF PORT CLINTON, OHIO.

AIR-INSPIRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed December 19. 1904. Serial No. 237.462.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, J OHN HEIMLICH, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Port Clinton, in the county of Ottawa and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Air-Inspirator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to air inspirators or apparatus for heating and either storing or immediately using compressed air, the object in view being to provide simple and effective apparatus for expanding air through the medium and application of heat then condensing or compressing the same, and conducting the compressed air to an engine for driving the latter, or to a storage tank from which it may be drawn and used as and for the purpose needed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-I igure 1 is a diametrical section through the air inspirator or compressor. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig, 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the complete apparatus, showing all elements of the system, including a source of heat.

The inspirator comprises a casing A, having a novel arrangement of chambers, passages and openings.

This casing, as illustrated, comprises an inner member embodying a irusto-conical wall 10, having at the lower extremity thereof a flange l1, and at the upper end thereof a cylindrical portion 12, the parts 10 and 12 forming the inner wall of the distribution and expansion chambers.

Surrounding the inner wall 10, 12, and supported upon the flange 11, is a flanged outer casing member embodying a wall 13, of general cylindrical form encircling the portion 10. of the inner Wall and forming therewith a lower air distribution chamber 14, and a constricted or relatively narrow annular expansion chamber 1'7, extending upward therefrom and embraced between the conical portion 15, and the cylindrical end portion 16, at the outer side, and the upper part of the conical portion 10, and cylindrical portion 12 of the inner wall, at the inner side.

From the outer wall of the member 13 projects a flange 18, upon which rests the flange 19of a jacket 20, which may be inclined at substantially the same angle as the portion 15, but is spaced therefrom to form a fire-chamber 21, the upper side of which is closed by an internal flange 22 of the jacket 20. The inner periphery of this flange 22 preferably has a plurality of V-shaped projections 23 which lie in close proximity to the cylindrical portion 16 of the outer wall 13, and, while providing an effective closure, conduct com- The outer wall of this fire-chamber is insulated irom the casing above it by means of a ring 23, of asbestos or other substance of low heat conductivity, which covers the flange 22. i

The upper part of the casing may be supported upon separate arms 24 rising from the jacket 20, and may comprise a tubular outer wall, the lower portion 25 of which is of least diameter, and has arms or projections 25 extending outside the arms 24, and having threaded through them screws 26, the pointed inner ends of which contact with the arms 24, this connection allowing but a slight conduction of heat. The wall 25 has a reduced or chamfered end 27 which extends into close proximity to the similarly chamfered extremity 28 of the wall 16, these elements lying so close to one another that they form a complete closure, yet give little area for heat conduction. The upper portion 29, of this outer wall is of greater diameter than the lower portion, and is threaded internally to receive the threaded open-top cold air conducting section 30 of an inner wall 31, there being formed between this wall and the wall 25 a constricted or relatively narrow annular compressed air passage 32. Between the lower end of the wall 31 and the adjacent extremity of the wall 12 an annular inlet-opening 33 is provided connecting the open interior of the casing withthe discharge orifice of the expansion chamber and the port of the compressed air passage.

The opening at the lower end of the conical wall 10 is partially closed by a head 34 supported by the flange 11 and having an opening about which are depending arms 35. Through these arms are threaded screws 36 with their inner pointed ends contacting with an air inlet-pipe 37, having at its upper extremity a conical mouth 38, the edge of which rests in contact with or closely adjacent to the wall 12 at the lower side of the inlet-opening 33.

The supporting means for the inlet-pipe 37 prevents undue heating in the same manner as the similar supporting means described in connection with the upper portion of the casing.

Opening through the wall 13 into the distributionchambcr 14 is an air-supply or feed-pipe 39 leading from a pressure tank 40 or other source of compressed air, while a pipe 41 extends through the jacket 20 into the fire-chamber adjacent to one side of a transverse partition 42 which divides said chamber. In the pipe 39, between the pressure-tank and the inspirator, is an air-supply regulatingvalve 43. The pipe 41 connects with some suitable source of heat such as blow-torch 44. From the fire-chamber, at the opposite side of the partition from the pipe 41, leads a pipe 45 which directs the discharged products of combustion into a sleeve or casing 46 which surrounds the feed-pipe 39.

Between the walls 25 and 31 is an annular chamber 47, into which the passage 32 opens, and from this chamber leads off a compressed-air supply-pipe 48 communicating with the tank 40 and preferably containing a check-valve 49 which prevents flow toward the inspirator. The chamber 47 also has communicating therewith an overflow or outlet pipe 50 in which is a valve 51.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that a continuous stream of fire is passed around the thin wall .15 and 16 within the fire-chamber which raises the temperature of said wall to a red heat, say 1700 or 1800 degrees. Therefore, the air previously heated to a temperature of say 500 degrees in passing through the supplypipe 39 is highly expanded in its passage through the expansion-chamber. As the expanded air emerges from the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber it contracts with lightning rapidity by reason of the same coming in contact and mingling with the cold air admitted by the inner tube 30 and passing in through the atmospheric air-inlet 33 The cool air rushing in through the small annular inlet 33 unites with the substance of the expanded air and the rapid contraction which instantly takes place induces a strong current upward through the compressed-air passage 32 thence through the space 47 and into the overflow or outlet-pipe 50.

The air fiows slowly through the supply pipe 39 from the pressuretank into the distribution-chamber 14, and moves slow] y upward coming in contact with the heated metal surface of the expansion-chamber where it is expanded to a high degree and discharged, and at the instant of its discharge, the cool air rushes into the annular inlet 33 and mingles with the expanded air contracting the same rapidly and setting up a rapid and vigorous flow oi the mixture upward through the passage 32 and onward therefrom to the compressed-air tank 40.

To start the inspirator, the stop-cock oi the overflow pipe 50 is opened and the valve of the supply-pipe 39 is closed. The blow-torch is then set in operation, the stream of fire passing entirely through the fire-chamber and around the expansion-chamber until the wall of said expansion-chamber is brought to a high temperature. The valve of the supply-pipe 39 is then opened and the air passes through the distribution-chamber and upward through the expansionchamber and a flow is set up through the passage 32 to and outward through the overflow pipe 50. Ai'ter this flow is set up, the stop-cock oi the overflow pipe is quickly closed, whereupon the atmospheric air passing through the inletopening 33 combines with the expanded air and starts the flow through the pipe 48 to the storage tank or motor as the case maybe.

I claim:

1. An inspirator comprising a casing having an annular expansion-chamber provided with an annular dis charge orifice, a firechamber surrounding said expansionchamber, and an atmospheric air-inlet adjacent to said orifice.

2. In an inspirator, the combination of a casing having an annular expansion-chamber provided with an annular discharge orifice, a fire-chamber surrounding the eXpunsion-chan1ber, an inlet-opening for comparatively cool air adjacent to said orifice, pipes opening into said chambers, and an outlet-pipe leading from the fire-chamber and entering a casing or jacket surrounding the pipe leading to the expansion chambor.

3, In an inspirator, the combination with a casing having an annular expansion-chamber provided with an an nular discharge orifice, a fire-chamber surrounding said expansion-chamber, and an inlet-opening for comparatively cool air adjacent to the outlet, of a partition in'the heating-chamber and inlet and outlet pipes opening into the fire-chamber at each side of the partition.

4. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an intermediate annular ex pansion-chamber having a discharge orifice, walls furnishing a passage situated opposite said orifice and leaving an air port, means for supplying air to the expansion chamber, and means for heating a wall of the expansion chamber.

5. An inspirator comprising two walls, one of which encircles the other, forming an annular expansion-chamber, a jacket surrounding the outer chamber-wall and forming a fire-chamber, walls furnishing an annular passage situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber and leaving an inlet-opening, means for supplying air to the expansion-chamber and a source of heat in communication with the fire-chamber.

6. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an annular expansion-chamber, a jacket surrounding the outer wall of said chamber and forming a firechalnber, walls supported upon the jacket and furnishing a passage situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber and leaving an inlet-opening, means for supplying air to the expansionchamber, and a source of heat in communication with [he fire-chamber.

7. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an intermediate annular expansion-chamber having a discharge orifice, Walls situated in substantial alinement with those first-named, and forming a passage the entrance of which is situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber, means for supplying air to the expansion-chamber, and means for heating a wall of the expansion-chamber.

8, An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other forming an intermediate annular expansion-chamber having a discharge orifice, walls situated in substantial alinement with those first-named and forming a passage the entrance to which is situated opposite said discharge orifice, the two outer walls having closely 'adjacent chamfered ends, means for supplying air to the expansiomchamber, and means for heating a wall of the chamber.

9. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an annular expansion-chamber, a jacket surrounding the outer chamber-wall and forming a fire-chamber, walls forming a passage the entrance to which is situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber, both walls and jacket having meeting projections, means for supplying air to the expansion-chamber, and a source of heat in communication with the fire-chamber.

10. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an annular expansionchamher, a jacket surrounding the outer wall of said chamber and forming a fire-chamber, walls furnishing a passage the entrance to which is situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansiomchamber, both walls and jacket having projecting arms, screws extending through one set of projecting arms and contacting with the other arms, means for supplying air to the expansiouchamber, and a source of heat in communication with the firechamber.

11. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an intermediate annular expansion-chamber having a discharge orifice, walls furnishing a passage the entrance to which is situated opposite said discharge orifice, the inner of these last-named walls being adjustable, means for supplying air to the chamber, and means for heating a wall of the chamber.

12. An inspirator comprising two walls one of which encircles the other, forming an annular expansion-chamber, ajacket surrounding the outer wall of said chamber and forming a firechamber, walls furnishing a passage the entrance to which is situated opposite the discharge orifice of the expansion-chamber, means for supplying air to the expansion-chamber, means for insulating the heating-chamber from the inlet-opening, and a source of heat in communication with the fire-chamber.

13, An air inspirator comprising a double walled body having therein an annular atmospheric air inlet, an an nular expansion-chamber orifice, and an annular air outlet port, the said orifice, port and inlet all being in communication at a common point, substantially as described.

14. An air inspirator comprisinga double walled body having therein an annular atmospheric air inlet, an annular expansiolrchamber orifice, and an annular air outlet port, the said orifice, port and inlet all being concentric and in close communicating relation with each other.

15. An air inspirator comprising a double walled body having therein an annular atmospheric inlet, an annular expansion-chamber orifice, an annular air outlet port, said orifice, port and inlet being in close communication and concentric relation with each other, and an annular fire-chamber encircling the expansion-chamber in proximity to its point of communication with the atmospheric air inlet and air outlet port.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HEIMLICH.

Witnesses WILLIAM A. WASHBURN, HENRY C. HARNEIT. 

